Results of culture form colonoscopically obtained specimens for bacteria and fungi in HIV-infected patients with diarrhea.

Background: The aim of our study was to determine the diagnostic yield of culture for bacteria and fungi from colonic biopsy specimens in 290 consecutive HIV-infected patients with diarrhea.

Methods: During each colonoscopy, three biopsy specimens were homogenized and cultured on media for Salmonella and Shigella and for Campylobacter and Yersinia, on Loewenstein medium and on Sabouraud medium.

Results: Cultures were found positive for one (n = 32) or two (n = 5) infectious agents in 37 cases, i.